Setting and indicating device for change speed transmissions



Aug. 22, 1939. A, CARTER 2,170,293

SETTING AND INDICATING DEVICE FOR CHANGE SPEED TRANSMISSIONS B9 "39 59 'my from/m Aug. 22, 1939. L. A, CARTER 2,170,293

SETTING AND INDIGATING DEVICE FOR CHANGE SPEED TRANSM'ISWSIONS l l l l l. 'Z I 3;; /7 ,Z f8 35336 CM @4% www Patented Aug. 2 2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SETTING AND INDICATING DEVICE FOR CHANGE SPEED TBANSMISSIONS Lionel A. Carter, Webster Groves, Mo.

Application January 22, 1936, No. 60,168

control member; in said application Serial No.v

721,974, I have also shown and claimed a device operable by the control member of the headstock transmission for setting said member to obtain a spindle speed that will give the approximate circumferential cutting speed required for a given work diameter and for indicating and checking said cutting speed, spindle speed and work diameter; and in my'application Serial No. 739,205, now Patent No. 2,030,097 dated February 11 ,1936, I have shown and claimed an improvement of the setting and indicating device shown in said ap- 20 plication Serial No. 721,974.

The present invention relates to an improvement in the setting and indicating device shown in said application Serial No. 739,205. The principal object of the present invention is to provide an additional advantage while retaining all of the advantages of the` setting and indicating device of said application Serial No. 739,205; namely, to provide the previous setting'and indicating device with symbols designating different work operations, whereby the correct cutting speed is obtained for each operation (after the device has been initially set) .merely by bringing the symbol for such operation into register with an index mark. The present invention consists in the improved setting and indicating device and in the construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like parts Wherever they occur,

Fig. l is a front view of a portion of a lathe having a iluid operated change speed driving mechanism provided with a setting and indicating device embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the geared head and the setting and indicating device, said devicebeing set for operation No. 1 to obtain a spindle speed of eightysix revolutions per minute and a circumferential cutting speed of sixty-three feet per minute for a work diameter of two and three-fourths inches,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 3--3 in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one oi' the tabs or blocks for designating one of the turning operations, f

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the slide plate on which arelocated the operation numbers and 5 the respective scales for indicating the diierent spindle speeds and work diameters,

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the device set for operation No. 2 to obtain a spindle speedof twelve revolutions per minute and a cirl0 cumferential cutting speed of thirteen and onetenth feet per minute tor' a work diameter of ilve inches,

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged fragmentary vertical sections on the lines 6-8 and 9--9, re- 15 I spectively, in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal section on theline Ill-I0 in Fig. 2. i

In the accompanying drawings, my invention is shown in connection with an engine lathe com- 20 prising a bed I provided with a headstock 2 containing a suitable change speed gearing (not shown) for driving at diierent selected speeds a spindle 3 provided at its forward end with the usual work supporting chuck or face plate 4, a 25 carriage 5 slidable on said bed towards and away from said headstock, a lead screw 6 for sliding said carriage when thread cutting, a feed rod 'I for sliding said carriage when doing work other than thread cutting, and a housing 8 located be- 30 low said headstock and containing a suitable change speed mechanism (not shown) for drivlng said lead screw and said feed rod at different selected speeds. The construction of geared head engine lathe thus far described is well known 35 and it is considered unnecessary to illustrate it in detail.

The headstock is preferably provided with a iiuid operated. change speed mechanism (not shown) of qthe kind shown in my applications 4o Serial Nos. 721,974, 24,313 and 48,921, wherein sixteen spindle speeds are secured by manipulation of a single control valve A mounted on the headstock 2 and controlling the passage of a suitable iluld through pipes 9 leading to the dif- 45 ferent ud operated devices (not shown). Said control valve comprises a ported core I0 rotatably mounted in a cylindrical casing il, which is iixed in an opening provided therefor in the front wall of the headstock and is provided with suitable ports for establishing communication between the pipes 9 and said valve core, all as shown and described in detail in the applications just referred to. The valve core I0 is rotated in the valve casing li by means of a rotary control 5| member or handle B comprising a hub portion I2 that is keyed to the forward 'end of said valve core outside of the head stock and is provided with radially extending handle portions I3.

The rotary valve core IIJ of the speed control valve A is accurately located in the sixteen different positions of its rotary adjustment by means of a spring-pressed plunger I4 that is slidably mounted in a radial bore provided therefor in e. radial bore provided therefor in a.. cylindrical sleeve I5 that surrounds the hub I2 of the speed control handle' A and is provided with an' outstanding iiange I6 that is removably secured to the frontend of the valve casing II. The inner end of the plunger is adapted to yieldably engage in any of sixteen circumferentially spaced pockets or recesses I1 formed in the periphery of an annular locating .plate I8 that is fixed to the hub I2 of the speed control handle A for rotation therewith within the cylindrical sleeve I5. By this arrangement, the spring-pressed plunger I4 serves to keep the valve core Ill in the desired position of its angular adjustment, `but is adapted to yield axially to permit said core to be manually rotated by the speed control handle.

As shown in my applications Serial Nos. 721,974 and 739,265, the speed control handle of the change speed transmissionlhas a device associated therewith and operated thereby for setting said handle to rotate the spindle 3 at a speed that will give the approximate circumferential cutting speed required for a given work diameter and for indicating and checking said spindle and cutting speeds and said work diameter. The setting and indicating device shown in said application Serial No. 739,205 comprises a plate I9 slidably mounted in a horizontal slideway 26 provided therefor in the front face of the headstock 2 just above the speed control handle B. 'I'he slide plate I9 is held in the slideway 26 by means of a retaining plate 2|, which is removably secured by screws 22 to the front face of the headstock 2 with its lower margin ,overlapping the upper margin of said slide plate. The slide plate I9, the slideway 2D Vand the retaining plate 2l are covered by a plate 23 that is removably secured to the headstock adjacent. to each end of the retaining plate 2| by screws 24 that extend through said retaining plate and are threaded into said headstock; and said cover plate extends below said retaining plate and is spaced far enough away from saidf headstock to accommodate said slide plate.

The front face of the cover plate 23 is depressed, as at 25, intermediate between its ends and provided with an opening in the form of a horizontally disposed elongated slot 26 that extends from end to end of said depressed' portion. 'Ihe slide plate I9 is provided on its front face with a longitudinal rib 21 that extends from end to end of said plate and slidably engages the elongated slot 26 in the cover plate 23 with its outer face disposed iiush with the depressed outer face 25 of the cover plate. The rear face of said cover plate has horizontal grooves 28 formed therein that are disposed in endwise alinement with the elongated slot 26 in said cover plate and serve to slidably support the rib 21 on the slide plate 2| when said rib travels beyond said slot.

The slide plate I9 is provided below the slot 26 in the cover plate 23 with a scale 29 that extends longitudinally oi said slide plate from end to end thereof and has graduations that indicate in revolutions per minute the sixteen different spindlespeeds that may be obtained by manipulating the speed control handle B. Said slide plate I9 is also provided opposite the elongated slot 26 in the cover plate 23 with a longitudinal scale 30, whose graduations indicate in inches and fractions thereof different work diameters. The cover plate 23 is provided along the upper edge of the slot 26. therein with a scale 3|, whose graduations indicate-in feet per minute diiferent circumferential cutting speeds for the work. The cutting speed scale 3| along the upper edge of the slot 26 in the cover plate 23 is adapted to cooperate with the work diameter scale 30 on the slide plate rib 21 which works in said slot; and the length of said work diameter scale is slightly less than the length of said slot, whereby the lentire work diameter scale may be observed through said slot whenl centered therein. The cover plate 23 is also provided opposite the spindle speed scale 29 with an index opening or window 32, through which may be observed any number of said scale when that number is brought into position opposite said window.

The slide plate I9 is slid horizontally in the slideway 20 by means of two intermeshing gears '33 and 34, respectively. The driving gear 33 is iixed to the hub l2 of the valve manipulating handle B for rotation therewith with its peripheral margin located between the end of the valve casing ll and the outstanding ange i6 on the cylindrical sleeve l5. The driven gear 34 is journaled on a stub shaft 35 that projects from and is fixed to the front wall of the headstock housing; and a suitable cover or guard plate 36 for said gear is removably secured to the outer end of said shaft. The driven gear 34 intermeshes with a longitudinal rack 31 formed on the lower edge of the slide plate I9, whereby rotation of said gear causes said plate to slide endwise in its slideway 20. By this arrangement, rotation of the speed control valve operating handle B causes the slide plate i9 to slide endwise, the parts being sorelated that when the springpressed plunger I4 is seated Within any one of the sixteen pockets l1 in the periphery of the annular locating plate I8, the number indicating the spindle speed obtained by such position of said handle will appear in the Window 32 in the cover plate 23.

The setting and indicating device thus far described operates as follows: Assuming that the work diameter is two and three-fourths inches and requires a circumferential cutting speed of sixty-threeI feet per minute, the speed control handle B is rotated to bring the portion of the work diameter scale 30 midway between the graduations marked two and one-half and three thereon opposite the space between the graduations marked sixty and seventy on the scale 3| indicating the cutting speed. In this position of the parts, if the spring-pressed plunger I4 is not seated in a pocket |1 of the locating plate I8, the speed control handle B is moved slightly to cause saidfplun'ger to seat in the closest pocket, thereby setting the speed control valve A in the position that will secure the closest spindle speed that may be obtained within the range of speed changes available.v In the example given and as illustrated in Fig. 2, the spindle speed will be eighty-six revolutions per minute and the number eighty-six will appear in the window 32 'of the cover plate 23 of the setting and indicating mechanism. Fig. 7 shows the device set for a spindle speed of twelve revoluasK tions per minute for rotating a work diameter 75 When it isdesired to check the setting of the change speed headstock, the operator or supervisor determines the work diameter and the circumferential cutting speed required therefor and then inspects the indicating lmechanism to see whether the ygraduation indicating the work diameter is in register with or close to the graduation indicating the circumferential cutting speed required for such diameter. If these two graduations are in register with or in close proximity to each other, Nit indicates that the spindle is being rotated at the nearest speed obtainable to give the required cutting speed.

According to the present invention, the hereinbefore described setting and indicating device is provided with means for designating the turning operations that are to be performed on different work diameters and for indicating the spindle speed, the cuttingspeed and the work diameter for each of said operations. Said means preferably comprises a plate 38 whose upper margin overlaps and is rigidly secured to the lower margin of the slide plate I9 and has the diameter scale 30 marked thereon, and whose lower portion is located below the cover plate 23 and-forms a depending skirt portion on said slide plate that terminates just above the upper edge of the gear cover 36 and overlaps the portion of the gear 34. The plate or extension 38 along the .lower portion of the slide plate I9 is provided below the cover plate 23 with a series of longitudinally spaced recesses 39 which correspond in number to the number of spindle speeds marked on the scale 29 and are located opposite the graduations"indi eating the respective spindle speeds. These recesses are adapted to receive any one of a corresponding number or series of blocks or tabs 60 that are adapted to be removably secured in said recesses preferably by means of screws 4| so as to be brought into register with a suitable index mark 42 on the gear cover 36 when the slide plate I9 is slid endwise; and said blocks are pro-- vided with numbers or other symbols designating the diierent operations that may be required for different work diameters.

With the above described arrangement, assuming that turning operations are to be performed on four different work diameters, the setting and indicating device is set for the first operation in the manner hereinbefore described and the tab marked Number 1 is secured in the recess op vcontrol handle to bring -the proper operation number directly belowvthe window and above the index arrow, either the window or the arrow beins' used as an index mark.

What I claim is:

1. In achange speed driving mechanism for 'a spindle, a control member for said mechanism, and a setting and indicating device for said control member, said device comprising a slidably mounted plate provided with a scale graduated to designate the different spindle speeds, an operative connection between said control member and said slidably mounted plate for sliding the latter when the former is actuated, said scale being adapted to cooperate with a stationary index for indicating the spindle speed for which f said control member is set, and ymeans whereby the, desired spindle speeds may be obtained 'for operations on different work diameters after the n device has been initially set therefor, said means comprising symbols designating the different work operations and attached to said plate opposite the graduations thereon indicating the spindle speeds required for the respective operations. Y

. 2.. In a change speed driving mechanism for a spindle, a control member for said mechanism, and a setting and indicating device for said control member, said device comprising a slidably mounted plate provided with a scale graduated to designate the different spindle speeds, an operative connection between said control member and said slidably mounted plate for sliding the latter when the former is actuated, saidscale being adapted to cooperate with a stationary index for indicating the spindle speed for which said control member is set, and means whereby the desired spindle speeds may be obtained for operations on different work diameters after the device.

tions thereon indicating. the spindle vspeeds r'e-r quired for the respective operations.

3. In a change speed driving mechanism for a spindle, a control memberfor said mechanism, and a setting and indicating device for said control member, said device comprising a slidably mounted plate provided with a scale marked to designate the different spindle speeds, an operative connection between said control member and said slidably mounted plate for sliding the latter when the former is actuated, said scale being adapted to cooperate with a stationary index for indicating the spindle speed for which said control member is set, and means whereby the desired spindle speeds may be obtained for operantions on diierent work diameters after the device has been initially set therefor, said plate being provided with recesses located opposite the graduations indicating the respective spindle speeds, vsaid means comprising a plurality of members having symbols thereon designating different turning operations and adapted to be mounted each in any one of said recesses.

4. In a change speed driving mechanism for a lathe spindle, a control member for said mechanism and a setting and indicating device for said control member, said device comprising a plate mounted for sliding movement on said lathe and having a scale graduated thereon designating the diierent spindle speeds, an operative connection between said control member and said slide plate for sliding the latter when the'former is actuated, and a cover'ilxed to said lathe and covering said slide plate, said cover. plate being'provided opposite said scale with an opening of a size adapted to uncover the graduation designating the spindle speed for which the transmission control member is set, said slide plate having a portion extending below said cover plate and provided below certain graduations on said spindle speed scale with symbols` indicating a particular sequence oi' spindle speeds.

5. In a change speed driving mechanism for a lathe spindle, a rotary control member for said mechanism, and a seiging and indicating device for said control rotary member, said device comprising a slidably mounted plate provided with a -scale marked to designate the different spindle speeds and a scale marked to designate different diameters of work, an operative connection between said rotary control member and said slidably mounted plate for sliding the latter when the former is rotated, anda stationary scale marked to designate different circumferential cutting speeds for the work and cooperating with the diameter designating scale of said slide plate, said slide plate having symbols thereon associated with said spindle speed scale for indicating a particular sequence of spindle speds, said symbols being adapted to cooperate with a stationary index for indicating the particular stage of such sequence and the spindle speed obtained thereby.

6. In a change speed driving mechanism for a lathe spindle, a rotary control member for said mechanism', and a setting and indicating device ior said rotary control member and operated solely thereby, said device comprising a plate -slidably mounted on said lathe and having a scale marked with graduations designating the different spindle speeds and a scale marked with graduations designating dierent diametrs of work, an operative connection between said rotary control member and said slidable plate for imparting a. longitudinal sliding movement to the latter when the former is rotated, a. cover plate xed to said lathe and covering portions of said slide plate, said cover plate being provided with an index window adapted to uncover a single graduation of said spindle scale and an opening located opposite to and of a length corresponding substantially to the length of said diameter scale, a third scale located on said cover plate marked to designate different circumferential cutting speeds for the work and cooperating with the diameter scale on said slide plate, and a plurality of consecutively numbered tabs` adapted to be secured to an exposed portion of said slide plate opposite certain graduations of said spindle speed scale whereby the desired sequence of spindie speeds may be obtained by bringing said numbei-ed tabs in regular order into position opposite said index window. l

. LIONEL A. CARTER. 

